LAGRANGE – A missing person case from 1952 was recently solved in Lagrange County.

Ralph Stutzman a local farmer from Lagrange went missing on August 17, 1952.

Stuzman and his wife had 13 children whom they were raising on their farm southeast Lagrange. He left assuring his family he would return in 20 minutes after attending to the family’s cows. However, Stuzman never returned home.

On February 12, 2023 The LaGrange County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a genealogist and through a thorough investigation Stutzman’s cold case was finally solved almost 71 years later.

The investigation concluded Stutzman had changed his name for an unknown reason and relocated. Records determined he died in 1968.

The Lagrange County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a press reason on Friday June 16th, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. with more information regarding Stutzman.